Introducing: Washington Forest Fire Lookout Challenge

[+The Navigatorz]

Scar Hill Lookout GC19H78 by FluteFace is a new cache in Area 1. It is listed in Rex Kamstra's Fire Lookout Webpage. It presently is not listed in Ray Kresek's book, but was included in an addendum after his book was published.

[+The Navigatorz]

Dow Mountain Lookout by ruck (Waypoint GC19N6P) was published yesterday and added to the Lookout Bookmark list. It is located in Area 1, near Hoodsport. Edited February 25, 2008 by The Navigatorz

[luckykoi]

Ruck must have read my trip report of the Dow Mountain hike. No view up there..

http://mosswalks.blogspot.com/2008/01/dow-mountain.html

Edited February 26, 2008 by luckykoi

[+The Navigatorz]

Scar Hill Lookout GC19H78 by FluteFace is a new cache in Area 1. It is listed in Rex Kamstra's Fire Lookout Webpage. It presently is not listed in Ray Kresek's book, but was included in an addendum after his book was published.

 

He must have read my trip report of that hike. No view up there..

http://mosswalks.blogspot.com/2008/01/dow-mountain.html

 

Your post here quoted my post about Scar Hill Lookout, but your report seems to discuss Dow Mountain. ??

[luckykoi]

No view up there..

http://mosswalks.blogspot.com/2008/01/dow-mountain.html

 

Your post here quoted my post about Scar Hill Lookout, but your report seems to discuss Dow Mountain. ??

 

Yeah my bad..

[+The Navigatorz]

Striped Peak Lookout by FluteFace (Waypoint GC19H79) was hidden on Feb 19 and recently published. It qualifies for the WA Lookout Challenge Cache and it has been added to the Lookout Bookmark list. It is located in Area 1, about 11 miles WNW of Port Angeles.

[+The Navigatorz]

Lookout Mountain North Summit (Waypoint GC19ZKQ) by tacowolf is a new qualifying cache and has been added to the Bookmark List. The lookout when it existed was called "Whatcom Peak Lookout". It is located in Area 2, about 7 miles SE of Bellingham.

[+The Navigatorz]

Webb Mountain Lookout (Waypoint GC1AER2), a new cache by ruck was added to the Challenge Bookmark list. It is located in Area 1 about 16 miles SW of Quilcene.

[+The Navigatorz]

Three new caches have been added to the Washington Forest Fire Lookout Challenge Bookmark list. They are:

GC1CBQ0 Anderson Butte (Area 1) by ruck

GC1CBQC Weatherwax Ridge (Area 1) by ruck

GC1CE5G Baldy Mtn (Area 3) by Georoo

[+The Navigatorz]

A new cache hidden by Mr. Gadget #2 qualifies for the lookout challenge. Its called Observation Point - Manastash LO (Waypoint GC1E5W3) and is located in Area 5. This cache replaces the archived cache called Poor Kate's Kitty (Waypoint GC1DA2). Thanks Mr. Gadget for retrieving the old cache and for the new hide.

 

Another cache near a lookout site in Area 2 was recently brought to my attention. Hills of Morning (Waypoint GCGJQQ) by colbridge was hidden in 2003 but was not listed in the Lookout Bookmark list because another cache, called Sauk it to Me, was closer to the lookout. However that cache has been archived. Thanks AndrewRJ for the heads up.

Edited July 15, 2008 by The Navigatorz

[+The Navigatorz]

Mt Hall Summit Cache (Waypoint GC1EE15) is a new cache located at a lookout site in Area 8, about 9 miles NE of Ione.

[+The Navigatorz]

A new qualifying cache was recently hidden by firenut-hunter on Mt Bonaparte, 15 miles NE of Tonasket. Elevation 7258 feet. A 12x12' log cabin built in 1914 still exists, as well as a 20' tower built in 1961 which is manned. Both structures are Listed on National Historic Lookout register.

[+GO West]

I would like to report that FS 6830, the road to Mt. Sawyer Summit View near Skykomish is open now.

 

That looging road had been washed out as recently as September 2007, but now is open all the way to the Tonga Ridge trailhead. The road is fine - you can see the washed out areas and repair work on the drive up.

 

There are three nice caches up there, including this WA lookout challenge cache. It's a good hike, with excellent views. I left a coin as incentive for other cachers to try it.

 

Also, within this same area is a rare drive-to lookout cache, Maloney Ridge Lookout.

 

Finally, just a short way up highway 2 is Heybrook Lookout, an uphill hike but much shorter than some. A cacher could conceivably grab all three of these lookout caches in an afternoon.

[+The Navigatorz]

I would like to report that FS 6830, the road to Mt. Sawyer Summit View near Skykomish is open now.

 

Thanks for the road update. Also per your request, you are now officially entered in the challenge. Good luck and have fun.

[+The Navigatorz]

A new hide at a lookout: It's called Aldrich Reference Mark Missing (Waypoint GC1MCDG). Its located in Area 6 of the Lookout Challenge Map, about 5 miles SW of Stevenson.

 

Location is highlighted on the map on the cache page Here

[+The Navigatorz]

Several have requested a modification to the Challenge rules regarding the Area requirement. Some have said they would participate (or complete) this challenge, if they were not required to travel to all of the 9 areas. I decided to grant that wish, but to be fair to those who have already completed the challenge under the original rules, I am listing the finishers as either Gold Level (original rule #12) or Silver Level (modified rule #12). Current participants can chose between the Gold or Silver level. Gold level finishers receive a geocoin when they complete the challenge, Silver level finishers do not. Perhaps this rule modification will promote more (or continued) participation in this challenge.

[+hydnsek]

Several have requested a modification to the Challenge rules regarding the Area requirement. Some have said they would participate (or complete) this challenge, if they were not required to travel to all of the 9 areas. I decided to grant that wish, but to be fair to those who have already completed the challenge under the original rules, I am listing the finishers as either Gold Level (original rule #12) or Silver Level (modified rule #12). Current participants can chose between the Gold or Silver level. Gold level finishers receive a geocoin when they complete the challenge, Silver level finishers do not. Perhaps this rule modification will promote more (or continued) participation in this challenge.

So....people will travel all over the state for the DeLorme and County challenges, but not for Fire Lookouts? Wimps. That's a real shame, cos some of my favorite ones were in the remote areas, like Salmo Lookout in Area 8, and traveling the Mountain Road in the Umatillas in Area 9.

 

True, there haven't been a lot of finishers, but the Fizzy and Earthcache challenges haven't had a lot, either. Some challenges are harder than others.

 

But your solution seems reasonable - good on you for being flexible.

[+The Navigatorz]

Wimps.

 

??? Huh? For some reason that didn't strike me as very appropriate. I hope you are kidding. There are various reasons for some, one of them being economics, another work schedule, and so forth. Lookout destinations in one area of the state are just as challenging as those in other areas of the state. So if one decides to find all 50 in his/her own corner of the state, and not have to drive to all other sections of the state, that's totally fine, and that doesn't make them a wimp. Good grief.

[+hydnsek]

Wimps.

 

??? Huh? For some reason that didn't strike me as very appropriate. I hope you are kidding. There are various reasons for some, one of them being economics, another work schedule, and so forth. Lookout destinations in one area of the state are just as challenging as those in other areas of the state. So if one decides to find all 50 in his/her own corner of the state, and not have to drive to all other sections of the state, that's totally fine, and that doesn't make them a wimp. Good grief.

Good grief, man, I was being silly. Sorry I didn't put enuf emoticons on there for ya. Here:

[+The Navigatorz]

Sorry I didn't put enuf emoticons on there for ya. Here:

 

That didn't help, and neither did the private email you sent me. You basically attacked those who choose to finish the challenge under the modified rule by calling them wimps. And you reinforced it by saying, "That's really a shame". I think an apology would work better.

[+hydnsek]

Sorry I didn't put enuf emoticons on there for ya. Here:

That didn't help, and neither did the private email you sent me. You basically attacked those who choose to finish the challenge under the modified rule by calling them wimps. And you reinforced it by saying, "That's really a shame". I think an apology would work better.

That's your interpretation, not what was typed or meant. However, I am indeed sorry that you (or anyone else) misunderstood my facetiousness. I wasn't attacking anyone - never occurred to me (not sure I'm the one attacking here). I was just being silly, and expressing surprise, as we do have other cross-state challenges. In fact, I complimented you on revising the rules to make it possible for more people to finish (in my post above and in email). I think that shows great flexibility on the part of the challenge owner and will enable more people to finish. You are right, 50 lookouts is 50 lookouts, no matter where they are. "That's really a shame" simply meant that some folks would miss some of the cool lookouts and sights in other areas, as in the examples I cited. It's also a shame that I will never summit Mt Rainier and claim that earthcache and see the views from there, but oh well. So, let's move on.

[+The Navigatorz]

It's difficult to interpret the written text sometimes. Without the smilies, or some indication that you were joking etc, it came across at face value and I saw it as an insult to those who choose to go with the modified rule. Apology accepted.

[+FluteFace]

For those of you that are into Washington State Forest Fire Lookouts, I found this: Lightning & Loneliness, sponsored by the Darrington Historical Society. It's on Sunday, 2/13 in Darrington. (I hear that there's a Lookout Cache very close by! )

 

Seems like a perfect Sunday -- this event in Darrington, and then on to Rey del Roble's Blown Away event. How much fun can a cacher have??

[+Kiersolvd]

The Washington Trails Association has a nice article on the restoration of Kelly Butte Lookout near Lester.

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